Ornamental eyeglass retainer and necklace

ABSTRACT

An ornamental eyeglass retainer and necklace for surrounding a user&#39;s neck to suspend a pair of eyeglasses or for wear about a user&#39;s neck, as an adornment. A pair of ornamental bodies each conceal one or more interconected rings within a vertical through bore. A transverse bar spans the through bore, at an upper end and passes through one of the rings, for retaining the ring in position. One of the rings protrudes from a lower end of the through bore for attaching a decorative neck surrounding cord or chain. The ring, at the upper end of the through bore, of each body, may be slideably engaged on each eyeglass temple and the cord or chain may be attached to a ring at the lower end of the through bore, on each body, to suspend the pair of eyeglasses. The ends of the cord or chain may be connected to form a necklace.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application derives priority from U.S. Provisional PatentApplication 60/513,229 filed: Oct. 22, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a combination ornamental eyeglass retainer andnecklace. The invention particularly relates to an eyeglass retainerwhich securely attaches to an eyeglass temple, presents a pleasingappearance and is adapted to be worn as a necklace, as a user desires.

2. Description of the Background

Eyeglass retainers are typically constructed of a cord or chain whichsurrounds the user's neck. A fitting is provided at each end of the cordor chain for attaching each end to one of the temples on a pair ofeyeglasses. While the eyeglasses are being worn, in the normal positionfor aiding sight, the cord or chain remains loosely draped around theback of the neck. When the eyeglasses are removed, the user may simplyrelease them to dangle on the cord or chain. The use of an eyeglassretainer avoids the need to find a safe place to rest the eyeglasses,when they are not being worn and also avoids the possibility ofmisplacing them while the user is occupied with multiple papers or otherwork materials. In addition, the eyeglass retainer prevents theeyeglasses from being damaged, in the event that they are accidentallydislodged from the user's face.

The fittings for attaching the cord or chain to the eyeglass templestypically include an elastic ring of material such as rubber. The userpasses each eyeglass temple through one of the rings and slides therings to a suitable position along the length of the eyeglass temples.The rings are connected to the cord or chain by a suitable fasteningmeans. Eyeglass retainers of this type are convenient and serviceable;however, they add a visually unattractive element to eyeglass frames,which are selected for their visual appeal in addition to theirpractical functionality. Efforts to produce eyeglass retainers havingthe necessary elements and a visually appealing look have focused onways to conceal or decorate the elastic ring. Eyeglass retainers, withfastening means of sufficient size to conceal the elastic rings, tend todetract from the visual appeal of the eyeglass frames, while eyeglassretainers having fastening means of smaller size tend to leave theelastic rings in view, thus detracting from the visual appeal of theeyeglass retainer. There remains a need for an eyeglass retainer havingthe necessary functional elements and decorative elements combined in anovel article which conceals the elastic ring and does not detract fromthe decorative effect of the user's eyeglass frames.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide aneyeglass retainer and necklace which is convenient and functional whilepresenting an attractive look. A cord or chain is provided forsuspending a pair of eyeglasses about a user's neck. The cord or chainhas a releasable fastener near each end for releasably attaching thecord or chain. One or more attachment assemblies are provided, whichcomprise a body having a generally vertical through bore. The body maybe ornamental and/or may be decorated on an exterior surface. One ormore interconnected loops are disposed partially within the throughbore. At least one of the loops is formed of elastic material. The bodyis provided with a transverse bar, proximate to the upper end, spanningthe through bore and passing through one loop of elastic material, forretaining the loop in position at the upper end of the body. The elasticloop may be grasped by a portion adjacent to the bar and slideablyengaged on an eyeglass temple. A releasable fastener may be releasablyattached to a loop, at the lower end of the body, for suspending theeyeglasses from the cord of chain. The body may be advanced to aposition adjacent to the eyeglass temple by pulling the cord to retractthe elastic loop into the through bore and out of sight. The releasablefastener may be attached to another releasable fastener to form a closedcircuit of the cord or chain for wear as a necklace. The attachmentassemblies may remain attached, when the article is worn as a necklaceor they may be removed. Also, an additional ornament may be positionedalong the length of cord of chain to add to the visual appeal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome more apparent from the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiment and certain modifications thereof when takentogether with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the attachment assembly engaged on aneyeglass temple for use as an eyeglass retainer.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the attachment assembly shown inphantom lines, to illustrate the configuration of the loops within.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cord with a releasable fastener.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cord with releasable fastenersinterconnected and an ornament positioned along the length of the cord,for use as a necklace.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a combination ornamental eyeglass retainer andnecklace. The invention, deployed as an eyeglass retainer is shown inFIG. 1 and comprises an ornamental cord 10 which may be a decorativefabric cord or metal chain (not shown)and a pair of attachmentassemblies 18. The cord 10 or chain has an end piece 12 terminating inan eye 14, as shown in FIG. 3, at each end. Releasable fastening meanssuch as a fastener 16 is permanently linked to the eye 14, forreleasably fastening the cord 10. Each attachment assembly 18 comprisesa body 20 and one or more interconnected loops 22 a-c shown in FIG. 2.The body 20 is provided with a generally vertical through bore. One ormore interconnected loops 22 a-c are disposed partially within thethrough bore. At least one of the loops 22 a is formed of elasticmaterial. Rubber is a suitable elastic material but other materialshaving rubber content or other elastic materials may be substituted.Others of the loops 22 b and c may be elastic material or they may be anon-elastic material such as metal wire or monofilament line. The loop22 b is shown as monofilament line and the loop 22 c is shown as a metalring, in FIG. 2.

The diameter of the through bore is selected to be sufficiently smallthat the elastic loop 22 a frictionally engages the surface within thethrough bore. A novel transverse bar 24 spans the through bore proximateto an upper end and passes through an elastic one of the interconnectedloops 22 a. The transverse bar may be fixed in position by soldering,gluing or by other suitable means. One of the loops 22 c is accessibleat the lower end of the through bore, for connecting the fastener 16.

The cord 10 may be formed of a flaccid material such as nylon, cotton orsilk, which may be woven or braided. It is intended that the materialshould be selected to be durable and attractive. A chain or wire may besubstituted for the cord 10 to accomplish the same purpose. The endpiece 12 may be a jewelry end cap with an eye 14. The end piece 12 maybe attached to the cord 10 by crimping, knotting, fusing or other knownmeans. An end piece 12 may be provided on a chain or wire byincorporating a ring as an end link, in a chain or by forming a loop atthe end of a wire.

A lobster claw clasp is a suitable fastener 16, which may be permanentlylinked to end piece 12. The lobster claw clasp provides a convenient,unobtrusive spring loaded means for attaching the cord 10, as shown inFIG. 3. It is to be understood that each end of the cord 10 is to beprovided with an end piece 12 and fastener 16. It is also to beunderstood that each eye glass temple would receive an attachmentassembly 18, as shown in FIGS. 1-2.

In use, an attachment assembly 18 is to be slidably engaged on eacheyeglass temple. An elastic one of the interconnected loops 22 a wouldbe grasped with the fingers, in the area adjacent to the transverse bar24 and drawn outward to expose a portion of the loop 22 a, which wouldbe stretched over the end of an eyeglass temple and slideably engagedthereon. The procedure would be repeated to slideably engage anotherattachment assembly 18 on an opposite eyeglass temple. The body 20 maybe positioned near to the eyeglass temple by drawing the cord 10 a smalldistance through the body 20. By positioning the body 20 near theeyeglass temple, a greater portion of the elastic loop 22 a is concealedfrom view. The improvement, of the present invention, allows the elasticloop 22 a to be concealed within the through bore of the body 20 andprovides an attractive appearance without the addition of relativelylarge sized ornaments for obscuring the view of the elastic loop 22 a.The user would suspend the pair of eyeglasses about his or her neck, bythe cord 10.

The attachment assembly 18 may be removed from an eyeglass temple, bygrasping the elastic one of said loops 22 a and disengaging the eyeglasstemple. Drawing the cord 10, with the eyeglass temple disengaged, willcause the elastic one of said loops 22 a to retract into the body 20 anddepend from the transverse bar 24 with a portion, adjacent to thetransverse bar 24, exposed for grasping, by the user. The transverse bar24 serves to retain the elastic loop 22 a in an accessible position forgrasping.

The body 20 may be formed in various ornamental shapes to suggestfamiliar or amusing subjects. Body 20 may also be decorated by etching,carving, surface coating or mounting external ornamentation on the body20.

The invention deployed as a necklace is shown in FIG. 4. The elements ofthe invention are shown without the attachment assembly 18. In use, thefasteners 16 would be connected together to form a closed circuit of thecord 10 and the user would suspend the cord 10 about his or her neck. Itis also anticipated that and ornament 26 would be positioned along thelength of the cord 10.

Having now fully set forth the preferred embodiment and certainmodifications of the concept underlying the present invention, variousother embodiments as well as certain variations and modifications of theembodiments herein shown and described will obviously occur to thoseskilled in the art upon becoming familiar with said underlying concept.It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention may be practicedotherwise than as specifically set forth in the appended claims.

1. A combination eyeglass retainer to suspend a pair of eyeglasses froma user's neck and, alternatively, or to wear as a necklace, comprising:an ornamental cord terminating at both ends by a pair of end pieces,each of said end pieces having an eye; a pair of releasable fastenerseach permanently attached at one end to one of said end pieces andadapted at another end for selective coupling; and an eyeglassattachment assembly, including, a body having a through-hole, and atransverse bar spanning an opening of said through hole; and at leastone loop disposed partially inside the through hole of said body, saidat least one loop being elastic and encircling said transverse bar;whereby said combination eyeglass retainer/necklace may be attached toeyeglasses by inserting the elastic loop of said eyeglass attachmentassemblies onto said eyeglasses to suspend said eyeglasses from a user'sneck and, alternatively, worn as a necklace by removing said eyeglassattachment assemblies and attaching said pair of releasable fastenerstogether.
 2. The combination eyeglass retainer/necklace according toclaim 1, wherein said at least one loop comprises a plurality ofinterconnected loops.
 3. The combination eyeglass retainer/necklaceaccording to claim 2, wherein only one of said plurality of loops iselastic.
 4. The combination eyeglass retainer/necklace according toclaim 1, wherein the through-hole of said body is sized for frictionalinsertion of said at least one loop therein.
 5. The combination eyeglassretainer/necklace according to claim 2, wherein one of said loops sitsatop the transverse bar and is accessible by fingers at a top of saidbody, and another of said loops is accessible at a bottom of said bodyfor connecting said releasable fastener.
 6. The combination eyeglassretainer/necklace according to claim 1, wherein said cord comprises anyone from among a group of nylon, cotton and silk.
 7. The combinationeyeglass retainer/necklace according to claim 6, wherein said cord isbraided.
 8. The combination eyeglass retainer/necklace according toclaim 1, wherein said cord comprises a chain.
 9. The combinationeyeglass retainer/necklace according to claim 1, wherein said releasablefastener comprises a lobster claw clasp.